Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Pentax
K-1 Mark II
36MP full-frame DSLR with IBIS and rugged build.
$1,999
Released Feb 2018
Z9 is 3.7 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
K-1 Mark II
3 categories tied
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TL;DR — Key differences
- BK-1 Mark II has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 120 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 101)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
K-1 Mark II
138 × 98 × 88 mm
720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)
Z9 is 11mm wider, 52mm taller, and 3mm thicker than K-1 Mark II.
Z9 is 620 g heavier than K-1 Mark II.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 88mm K-1 Mark II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
K-1 Mark II
138 × 98 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
K-1 Mark II
138 × 88 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
K-1 Mark II
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
K-1 Mark II
Pentax K
70+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -3 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 120 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 101 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
K-1 Mark II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
AA filter
Only K-1 Mark II supports it
Weight
720 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
IBIS effectiveness
7 stops vs 6 stops — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
K-1 Mark II
Pros
- ✓36MP FF DSLR
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Rugged
- ✓Affordable used
Cons
- –DSLR
- –Slow AF
- –Heavy
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Z9 and K-1 Mark II at major authorized retailers.
Pentax K-1 Mark II
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, Z9 or K-1 Mark II?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for K-1 Mark II — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and K-1 Mark II?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and K-1 Mark II is 36 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and K-1 Mark II have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while k-1 Mark II has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the K-1 Mark II?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. K-1 Mark II reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and K-1 Mark II?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and K-1 Mark II weighs 720 g, so the K-1 Mark II is 620 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and K-1 Mark II record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. K-1 Mark II: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and K-1 Mark II weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. K-1 Mark II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 640 shots for the K-1 Mark II, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and K-1 Mark II at $1,999. The K-1 Mark II is $3,900 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Pentax press materials.